Haida People
In the Haida Laas newsletters from the Council of Haida Nation (CHN), many events were held as memorials to retell the story of the Lyell Island Protest from multiple perspectives within the Haida community. Specific articles within newsletters recounted different people’s memory of the protest. Physical symbols included the "Lyell Island Song" (Haida National Anthem), Legacy Pole, Athlii Gwaii 25th Anniversary.
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In The Haida Gwaii Observer newspaper, the protest was described as a hopeful and respected memory that became a lesson for current and future Haida community and other Indigenous communities to learn. Active Haida leaders during the protest were acknowledged as popular figures due to their involvement and dedication during and after the protest. Thoughtfully chosen physical symbols were also emphasized (e.g. Legacy Pole and commemoration flags).
Memory and Symbol
Source: July 2013 Haida Laas newsletter
Source: October 2010 Haida Laas newsletter
Attitude
The authors from the CHN were mostly positive and optimistic throughout the articles. Intergenerational retelling of past resistance, in this case, the Lyell Island protest, was the encouragement to maintain the positive attitude. The protest was mostly mentioned in 2013 during the Legacy Pole raising ceremony. However, the protest was not mention before the ceremony (2011-2013) and in the recent years (2015-present).
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The authors from The Haida Gwaii Observer ranged from neutral to positive attitudes with no distinct patterns in their writing about the protest. The retelling of the protest by different Haidas, commemoration of those who fought and the protest as a lesson for the future were common topics among our sample.
Source: Go Haida Gwaii